The award-winning regions have experienced strong growth in tourist numbers, with tourists visiting all year round. Kolari was awarded the title of Tourist Region of the Year thanks to the increase in the length of stay of tourists.
In Finland, the Inari-Saariselkä tourist region was chosen as the Tourist Region of the Year with 86.1 points. Kemi came second with 81.2 points and Sodankylä came third with 79 points. The maximum score was 100.
In the comparison, the regions were ranked according to the following criteria:
1\) Evolution of the number of guests arriving at registered accommodation establishments 2\) Evolution of the length of stay of tourists 3\) Even distribution of the number of nights spent by holidaymakers in different months 4\) Accommodation sales per capita.
Based on a comparison, the recognition awarded for the fifth time was awarded by the Finnish tourism industry association SMAL, the Finnish Association of Tourism Organizations SUOMA ry and the Research and Analysis Center TAK Research.
The comparison included 127 regions. In order to be able to make a comparison, the area had to have accommodation statistics for at least six months.
None of the regions were the best measured by all metrics, but the most successful tourism regions rank at the top in three of the four factors that measure the region’s tourism success.
In the award-winning areas, the number of tourists has grown strongly and tourism is year-round. Attention was also drawn to the fact that accommodation sales are high in relation to the area’s population. The number of tourists staying in the regions has also increased significantly during the year.
Kouri mentions that tourism marketing has been done actively and very purposefully. A big thank you goes to the companies in the area and, of course, Utsjoki and Inari. When the pandemic period ended, we were able to operate efficiently in the region and react in a rapidly changing environment.
– As an area, this is very unique. We have everything from wilderness camping to luxury, so I dare say that there is definitely something for everyone, says Kouri.
Kolari receives an honourable mention
Among the regions included in the comparison, the stay of tourists in the Kolar region was the longest, and that entitled the region to an honorable mention. Tourists’ stay in accommodation establishments was 31 percent longer than the previous year’s average.
During 2022, the direction of foreign tourism turned to strong growth at the end of the long pandemic period, and domestic tourism shone stronger than ever. For many months, domestic overnight stays broke records throughout the country.
The tourist area of \u200b\u200bthe year in Finland is chosen annually. In 2021, the tourist area of \u200b\u200bKoli was chosen as the tourist area of \u200b\u200bthe year in Finland. Second came Jämsä and third was the municipality of Pelkosenniemi.